Families of burned illegal immigrants grieve while medical bills and questions mount
By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - North County Times | ∞
/Felipe Mercado mourns the loss of his wife to the Harris Fire at his Vista apartment Thursday. On the wall behind him is a memorial he made for her.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
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The recent wildfires here left a tragic toll among immigrant families, but they also left a financial cost that hospital officials will have to pay somehow.
Maria Guadalupe Beltran, a Vista mother of four, was one of 11 people who were rescued from the Harris fire near the border and treated for burn injuries at UCSD Medical Center. But those injuries claimed Beltran's life; on Nov. 6, she became one of at least seven migrants to die as a result of the fire.
Beltran risked her life attempting to cross the border illegally during one of the worst possible times, the October wildfires. The husband and children she left behind now face economic hardship in addition to their grief.
As families like Beltran's struggle with their own private tragedies, the costs incurred by hospitals for caring for the fire victims are part of a debate over illegal immigration that shows no signs of dissipating.
A month before the fires, county officials released a report estimating that illegal immigrants cost local hospitals $155 million in uncompensated medical care last year, mostly in the form of emergency room visits.
The study's authors said the figures "must be viewed with a certain amount of caution" because the estimates were based on anecdotal information and not hard statistics. But grieving families find it too easy to tally the cost of illegal immigration in human terms.
"I prayed to God that he let her live," said Felipe Mercado, Beltran's husband, holding back tears Thursday as his children played and watched TV in their Vista apartment. "I was with her a week and twice she had to be revived. She was a strong woman. I know she wanted to live. She fought very hard for her children."
A family's tragedy
Before her death, the family got by on the meager wages Mercado and Beltran earned selling tamales and champurrado, a traditional Mexican drink made from corn. A call in early October began a series of events that put the family in a tragic spiral, Mercado said.
The call was from Beltran's mother, telling her that her father had died. Against her husband's advice, she decided to travel to Mexico to attend the funeral. It was the first time she was back in Mexico since coming to the United States 10 years ago.
"At first, I told her don't go," Mercado said. "But she wanted to go, and she wanted me to back her decision."
Mercado reluctantly agreed, knowing the dangers of crossing the border, he said. Beltran took the couple's 1-year-old son and their 5-year-old daughter on the trip. As U.S. citizens, the children could cross the border easily.
Accompanying them was Beltran's brother, Nicolas.
They agreed to return in a week, but Beltran's mother fell ill after her father's burial. The decision to stay a few more days put Beltran in the path of the Harris fire, which began Oct. 21 north of Tecate.
The family agreed to pay a smuggler $3,000 to guide Beltran and her brother back across the border. Mercado would have to come up with $1,500 for his wife's fee. The children were driven by a family member back to San Diego.
It was supposed to take six hours to walk across the border near Tecate Peak. The mountain was already on fire Oct. 21 when the smuggler and his clients were last seen at about 11 a.m. in Tijuana.
"Monday came without news of them," Mercado said.
A body found
The Harris fire burned more than 90,000 acres and killed a man near Potrero who was trying to defend his property. The bodies of four people suspected of crossing the border illegally were also found Oct. 25 near Highway 94.
A volunteer search group known as the Desert Angels found the body of a man Nov. 4 near the top of Tecate Peak. The man is believed to be Juan Carlos Bautista Ocampo, a native of Chiapas, Mexico, who was crossing the border illegally attempting to return to San Marcos.
Matt Johnson, a spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego, said the agency rescued about 50 people who were injured in the fire. He said no further information was immediately available about those who were rescued.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the agency is not tracking the suspected illegal immigrants who were taken to the burn center at UC San Diego. Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for the agency in San Diego, said they would keep track of them only if they brought them to the hospital.
"If we bring them in and we put a detainer on them, we'll pick them up," Mack said.
After days of desperate searching, Mercado said the Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee, a nonprofit group that helped look for his wife, contacted him Oct. 26. It wanted him to go to the burn center to identify one of the patients.
Mercado said he did not recognize the badly disfigured woman he saw on the hospital bed.
Then, he saw the white polish on the toenails. He remembered his wife painting them white for an outing to a pizza parlor with their children the Sunday before she left.
"After I recognized her, I felt a cold chill come over my body. A dark shadow came to me and I felt weak," he said. "The next thing I knew, I was in another room. They told me I fainted."
Despite the hospital's efforts, Beltran died of her injuries at 1:32 p.m. Nov. 6.
Who will pay?
Mercado said his wife had health insurance, provided through her U.S.-born children, to cover her medical costs. Dr. Thomas McAfee, UCSD's physician-in-chief, said he was unaware of Beltran's case, but said that the hospital had been able to get emergency Medi-Cal coverage for some of the patients.
Hospital officials said their duty is to care for patients regardless of their ability to pay.
"When we get patients during an emergency, our priority is to take care of the patients regardless of whether they are legal residents or not," said McAfee.
He said several patients, including two in critical condition, are still in the hospital. Because their care is ongoing, the hospital does not have a total cost for the suspected illegal immigrant patients.
McAfee said that during previous fires the average cost of care per burn victim was about $90,000. However, he cautioned that costs can vary widely depending on the care that is needed.
Federal law requires that hospitals provide emergency care to all people, including illegal immigrants. The government provides money for this care, but the funds cover only part of the costs.
A special Medi-Cal fund can reimburse costs to a hospital for some patients even if they are in the country illegally, McAfee said. But the fund pays for only a few days or until a patient is stabilized, he said.
There are also some federal funds that help offset the cost of providing care to illegal immigrants.
'It's a fixed pool (of money) and it's tightly restricted," he said. "So we end up submitting the application, but we never know what we're going to get."
In California, hospitals spent more than $1 billion in 2005 on health care for illegal immigrants that was not reimbursed by federal or state programs, according to federal government estimates. Meanwhile, the state received $66 million in federal money in 2005. The county received about $1.4 million.
Illegal immigration critics often fault migrants for the rise in health care costs, but immigrant rights advocates point to some studies that indicate migrants tend to use fewer medical services than native-born residents.
Some analysts say the actual costs are difficult to measure due to the shadowy nature of the population.
An outspoken critic of illegal immigration, Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, said the federal government should pay more of the health care bill, but added illegal immigrant patients should be returned to their country as soon as possible.
"The federal government ought to reimburse 100 percent of the cost" to local hospitals, Bilbray said. "I just ask them to take them into their (country's) system as soon as they are able. They should be transferring those patients into their hospitals."
Bilbray, who serves as chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus, said most of his colleagues in Congress are not eager to fully reimburse local governments and hospitals for the cost of illegal immigration. If they did, they would have to acknowledge the cope of the problem, he said.
A family without Christmas
Mercado can't help but acknowledge the enormous challenge before him.
The grieving father said he is now two months behind on rent. He said he has been unable to work since his wife's death.
People have donated canned food and some money. The Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee established a fund on the family's behalf; about $400 had been donated the last time he checked, he said.
An altar in the wall of his living room includes pictures of the family, flowers and posters of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. Next to the altar, there's a Christmas tree donated by a neighbor, but Mercado said he hasn't been able to finish decorating it.
When the couple arrived 10 years ago, they planned to work a few years, save money, build a home in Mexico and go back to get married, Mercado said. They nearly finished the house in Mexico, but they never had a wedding.
At dusk Thursday, his 5-year-old daughter lighted the tree and smiled.
Mercado said that were it not for his children, he would not celebrate the holiday.
"It's not Christmas for me," he said. "I don't feel like decorating the tree, there are no presents for me ... I can't accept what's happening. I want to wake up from this bad dream."
To donate, call First Bank at (619) 425-5000. The Mercado Family Fund account number is 94841-00475.
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It must be Sunday wrote on Dec 8, 2007 11:50 PM:Must be Sunday, for here is Edward's feel good story about the poor Illegal Aliens.
Hospital officials said their duty is to care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. wrote on Dec 8, 2007 11:56 PM:Don't worry though, they will get their money back when they bill you (The United States Citizen) or your insurance company.
We Need A Fence wrote on Dec 8, 2007 11:57 PM:These people would still be alive if we had a wall and control of our borders. Not only that but we would not have to be paying for them.
fedup wrote on Dec 9, 2007 8:37 AM:This article should be read by all of those who claim the illegals contribute more than they take. It's very revealing. These people were part of the underground economy with money they brought in for themselves, but were depending on US taxpayers for the services US taxpayers have to provide for themselves. And the illegal tamale/homemade drink business must be pretty lucrative if they were able to afford an apt., babies, trips to the pizza parlor, $3000 treks across the border, etc. And what an eye opener, that because of their [children], the parents also got free govt. healthcare! While we stupid US citizens are taxed and controlled by a layer of govts. above us, and have to figure out how to provide our own health care or go without. There needs to be a revolution. Our current government is not doing its job.
The price of Freedom wrote on Dec 9, 2007 8:51 AM:would be a lot less if Maria Beltran had just applied for citizenship. Even with the recent hike in fees for citizenship applications she would of paid less than what the coyote got. Sometimes people make mistakes.
fedup wrote on Dec 9, 2007 9:11 AM:yep, another cost created by ILLEGAL ALIENS, that we all have to pay for!
choo choo wrote on Dec 9, 2007 9:13 AM:Why don't I feel sorry? Felipe Mercado and Maria Guadalupe Beltran, a Vista mother of four got by on the meager wages Mercado and Beltran earned selling tamales and champurrado, a traditional Mexican drink made from corn. Why don't I believe that? If these are such intelligent, honest, hard working, productive people why don't they and the millions like them stay home in Mexico making that country a better place?
Ed wrote on Dec 9, 2007 9:14 AM:Bill the Mexican govornment the cost of the Medical bills and then deport them!
Richard wrote on Dec 9, 2007 9:22 AM:Once again the plan is of their building a house first and then retuning which instead puts them in the position of having created a continuing expense which they can then only afford by remaining here. Then as they have created a problem for themselves we are expected to take care of their situation for them.
Syl wrote on Dec 9, 2007 9:24 AM:Meanwhile, another newspaper runs a story today of the deaths of John “Chris” Bain and Vicky Fox, Escondido residents who also died in the October Fires.
fedup wrote on Dec 9, 2007 9:58 AM:The law needs to be changed! why should we always be stuck for paying ILLEGAL ALIENS bills? Sorryfor the death, but if everyone would quit hiring ILLEGALS, then this death would not have occured. So maybe the ILLEGAL father will return to mexico and take his ILLEGAL children with him.
Where's the catholic church? wrote on Dec 9, 2007 10:07 AM:Where are the pro-illegal immigrants activist groups? Why aren't they paying the medical bills and helping these people? Have you donated to their plight Edward S.? If they came here legally the situation they are in would never have happened. Stop the job magnet by enforcing immigration laws and secure the borders. This is for everyones sake and for many good reasons.
Dawn In Wildomar wrote on Dec 9, 2007 10:12 AM:There is just so many things wrong with this story. I just don't understand why, if illigal immigrants walk into a hospital, someone at the hospital isn't calling immigration to pick these people up? If I walked into a hospital, I have to fill out all the paper work, have a ss card ect.. Why are they treated any different? If NCT's can do a story on this family, show pictures of their apartment, then they know where they live. Give the hospital their address and the Goverment doesn't have to pay the bill. How are these people getting apartments anyway? There is just way too many things wrong about this story and what's going wrong in this Country !
Send the bill wrote on Dec 9, 2007 10:27 AM:to Calderon, after all where there is a Mexican, there is Mexico.
Mara wrote on Dec 9, 2007 11:05 AM:Strange that one of Edward's sympathy stories for Illegal Immigrants did not make the front page of the NCT webpage this Sunday.
Jean wrote on Dec 9, 2007 11:28 AM:She had some medical coverage because of her "U.S." children, yet they never planned to keep them here. Just use this country's benefits for awhile, then live the Mexican dream. How much did this patriotic citizen's bills cost Americans? I mean this patriotic Mexican citizen?
mary wrote on Dec 9, 2007 11:41 AM:sell house mexico to pay bills
Domingo wrote on Dec 9, 2007 11:43 AM:If a burglar falls down my steps and breaks his leg, Im all for the burglar getting medical attention. Should I have to pay for it? Should the burglar get a pass on breaking into my house? Ofcourse I realise holding a criminal responsible for his actions is a new concept, Im probably a racist thoughtcriminal for even thinking about it..............what a country!
Scott wrote on Dec 9, 2007 11:44 AM:How do minor children provide medical coverage for their mother? Send this leech back to Mexico
... wrote on Dec 9, 2007 12:56 PM:Natural consequences befit stupid and illegal actions. Send the bill to Calderon for his "wherever there are Mexicans there is Mexico?"
Vista Native wrote on Dec 9, 2007 12:59 PM:How do I become an illegal alien? They seem to have a lot more than I do. I am of hispanic descent. Do I just say I am from Mexico and say I have no papers? My only down fall is I speak no spanish but maybe I should go to school to learn spanish. My mother speaks spanish, maybe she should try.
Bernie wrote on Dec 9, 2007 1:43 PM:Its too bad what happened to this woman but she is an illegal alien. She did not belong in this country and we are not responsible for her. Where is LA Raza, Mencha, ACLU and all the other racist organizations that defend the illegals?? Why don't they come to the aid of the people they defend?? Her children should not be American citizens, either, and should not be entitled to medical aid or any aid for that matter by the American taxpayer. This is just another example of why illegal immigration is bad for everyone involved. If they want to better their lives, do it the right way only. Everyone, except the greedy employers of these illegals, get hurt. We have American citizens who are struggling to pay their own medical bills and need our help. Let Mexico take care of its own citizens.
Marge wrote on Dec 9, 2007 2:33 PM:What I'd like to know is how did this woman get health insurance through her U.S.-born children. What kind of outrageous perk is this? ...
RangerRon wrote on Dec 9, 2007 3:14 PM: Send the bills to Mexico, they aid and abet the invadors, giving them maps and assistance, and reap the benefits of the money that is sent south...$25Billion a year.American taxpayers shouldn't have to assume the burden of their ... kids.When their fit to travel, take them to the border and dump them on the mexican side of the border!
Send the Bill wrote on Dec 9, 2007 3:17 PM:To Tina and Bill. They have compassion. We have the money.
MEXICO SHOULD PAY wrote on Dec 9, 2007 3:19 PM:LET THE GREAT MEXICANOS PAY=---OH YEAH THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
Mercado said his wife had health insurance, provided through her U.S.-born children, to cover her medical costs. wrote on Dec 9, 2007 3:19 PM:Ok, I could not get past this bombshell! Please, please tell me this couldn't possibly be true!
Loke wrote on Dec 9, 2007 3:22 PM:Amazing.....legal American citizens go without health care insurance, but ILLEGAL immigrants are granted that privilege by our government at our expense.
James wrote on Dec 9, 2007 5:56 PM:And Freddi, we are so tired of dealing with folks like you. Your 'understanding' of immigration is so shallow and skewed that you are fighting the wrong enemy...ahh whats the use.
Sheesh wrote on Dec 9, 2007 6:48 PM:A woman has died, here, people. Should we talk about the policies and poor choices that led up to her death? Absolutely. But have some respect. If you or your spouse were burned to death in a fire, how would you feel if people insulted you, called you names, because the government picked up your health care or because you made a choice you shouldn't have made? ERs care for poor people without regard for their ability to pay. Period. Is that a drain? Yes. But no one is automatically deserving of more respect or care simply because they were born in the U.S. I don't know where all these posters come from, but they need to get off their high horses. Being American does not make us special or more deserving of help in a time of need. And being Mexican --even breaking our immigration laws -- does not make someone deserving of a fate such as that of Ms. Beltran.
Native American wrote on Dec 9, 2007 7:16 PM:To all you racist bloggers, why don't you leave, you're the illegal immigrants!
Hey Eduardo and NCT wrote on Dec 9, 2007 7:34 PM:I don't care! I only read this ... to assure myself that I'm not alone. The comments support my lack of caring. I am a compassionate person for those who are my fellow Americans and for mankind. But I have a problem with illegals and our country's policy. And from reading these... articles I see that I am not alone. To my fellow Americans, find a fire victim in Rancho Sante Fe, RB or Escondido and donate to them. We all need to be supported. Maybe Mr. Mercado can return to Mexico and find compassion there. ...
nwkerr2005 wrote on Dec 9, 2007 9:00 PM:I feel sorry for the death of any human being. It is tragic and my prayers go out to the family. But that does not negate the fact that we are a nation of laws. Thanks to the Democrats in Washington, Sacramento, and a few weak Republicans, this will be an ongoing problem. Just remember when we go to the polls in November that it is typically the tree hugging liberals in the Democratic party that want to sell out the nation for future voters.
Sick n Tired of ignorant u.s. citizens wrote on Dec 9, 2007 10:21 PM:First and foremost respect, compassion,and understanding is needed. A human being has lost her life and has left children w/o a mother for the holiday season and forever. It takes strong, courageous,and true Christian values to put our own political, philosphical, and personal values to the wayside. Yes this is a highly controversial and complex social issue. It is so easy to be judgemental and get on our "high horse" or "holyer than thou" soapbox. Ask yourself when you go to sleep in your warm bed tonight "What would you do in this situation"? Are you being judgmental base on your own IGNORANCE, insecurities, failures, and/or frustrations with ur life and/our government? Why ur life? ask god. Why are govt.? Ask about the billions of taxpayer $$$ in illegal pork barrel spending, illegally subsidizing farmers,illegal wars,welfare system fraud (most recipients in the U.S. are white),white collar crime,gas prices for your co2-spewing suvs, etc .etc. History once again repeats itself with ignorant people scapegoating/blaming the weak and poor for the actions of the few elite priviledged members of society (euro-americans). "Illegal" immigration is a [pain], just ask Native Americans .By the way,if your looking for REAL solutions, start with yourselves and ask God for a special Cristmas gift this year- a brain and a HEART! "The tongue is also on fire...evil...corrupts the whole body..." James 3:6
To Sick n Tired wrote on Dec 10, 2007 3:51 AM:You are the most ignorant of all, use your computer to look up the facts of who is receiving the welfare benifits you speek of, white recipients are on the bottom of the list. Also, there is nothing illegal about subsidizing the farmers for the food we eat. Nor is there an illegal war. Also, I love my SUV, all three of them. I'm sorry you have to take the bus. I work hard for what I have,...
JanetP wrote on Dec 10, 2007 4:05 AM:I join the other posters in demanding to know how the mother qualifies for insurance 'provided through her U.S.-born children' and call on Edward Sifuentes to write a follow-up to explain that process.
Married? wrote on Dec 10, 2007 5:38 AM: First the article states they were married,then later states 'they never had a wedding'. Four children in ten years...
No handout here wrote on Dec 10, 2007 6:29 AM:Felipe only agreed to do this story since its the holidays and he's probably thinking the soft hearted Americans will read about his heart break then send money to the Bank address provided at the bottom. Sorry Felipe, your story lets me know you've been getting a handout for way too long. Time you returned the favor by returning to Mexico...
To - sick n tired wrote on Dec 10, 2007 7:02 AM:I got your "story" of how you can make every legal tax payer "wrong" for this illegal womans death, people like you live in the context "that something's wrong" face it our political leaders are and have been ignoring this problem for years, if it was addressed this story would not of been written..your "good book" also say's to obey the law of the land...I was born and raised in san diego legally..get it..we are sick and tired of illegals..we are sick and tired of illegals.. we are sick and tired of illegals..ANY QUESTIONS??????
Thanks Edward wrote on Dec 10, 2007 8:04 AM:For writing a piece about immigrants that actually addresses and supports many of this papers commentors concerns. 1. "they planned to work a few years, save money, build a home in Mexico and go back to get married" - so they came here only interested in using our system to enhance their lives in Mexico, not the U.S. like you keep telling us. 2. "the family got by on the meager wages Mercado and Beltran earned selling tamales and champurrado" - usually made at home without health permits and sold at the swap meet or on the streets with NO TAXES PAID on sales or wages. 3. "the average cost of care per burn victim was about $90,000" & "had health insurance, provided through her U.S.-born children" - the high cost of allowing illegals to have children that are declared U.S. citizens and how taxpayers foot the bill. I fully understand why the NCTimes editors buried this article,it blows down their their pro-illegal stance, and I bet they must have been pretty surprised it came for Sisfuentes.
to No Handout wrote on Dec 10, 2007 8:19 AM:This story is old news. You are right, they only did this story to try and generate money for an illegal alien. While I feel truly sorry for Maria having to die the way she did, we must bury the dead and move on. It would be interesting to see how much money Ed made for Felipe.
Rafael wrote on Dec 10, 2007 8:25 AM:There are so many layers of "out of control" and "unbelievable" going on with this illegal invasion that I can only say . . . America is going to he11 .... Our gov't has let this illegal fiasco happnen and continues to do nothing about it. PEOPLE -- either vote the morons out of office or pack your bags and move to New Zealand.
Pat wrote on Dec 10, 2007 9:08 AM:It's articles like this that caused us to cancel our subscription. We may read them , with disgust, online once in awhile but we're sure not going to pay for this drival.
Francis wrote on Dec 10, 2007 10:24 AM:Who is going to pass the hat for John “Chris” Bain and Vicky Fox, Escondido residents who also died in the October Fires. I don't see any story here about them, or any special accounts set up for thier families. After all they were United States Citizens.
Real Citizens wrote on Dec 10, 2007 10:31 AM:If you talk about Mexicans being illegal aliens, you are mistaken because the real citizens of this land are the Native of American, and most of Mexicans are native of America (the continent of America). Don’t forget that your great grandparents were also immigrants. The beauty of this country is the diversity and that it has been construct with the hardship of immigrants. The ugly part of this country is the ignorance. Most us citizen ignore their countries history and of course, world’s history too. Another ugly thing about the USA is the manipulation of their government. Most of US citizens live happy with their ignorance because they have superficial goods (SUV’s, big screen t.v. and credit cards to consume lots of garbage). Out of all the countries I have lived, this society is the most boring and superficial. I honestly feel bad for you, that’s because I have compassion. Mexicans, and other Latin American countries immigrants as well as Russians, Chinese, etc. come and do the jobs that no one else does, then most of them work really hard and take jobs from the us citizens. It’s a fare game. This country gives opportunities to those that work hard. So, good morning! Wake up and smell the great coffee brought to you from South America! I’m happy my country Poland (which is a country located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic) recognize the hardship of immigrants. We honestly think that most of us citizens are ignorant, and I confirm it by reading all these notes and your newspapers. How many of you have gone outside your suburban? How many languages do you speak? What other newspapers do you read? Do you believe your government? Everyone knows that the USA is becoming a third world country, and soon you’ll need to migrate too.
Real Citizens--That's right Rafael!!! wrote on Dec 10, 2007 10:34 AM:I agree with Rafael. The USA is becoming a third world country becuase most of its citizens are so ignorants. Soon, very soon your children might have to migrate to other countries....so be ready, learn about other countries, customs, language and be willing to work HARD!. You might end up coming to my country (Poland).
Gary wrote on Dec 10, 2007 11:29 AM:A country is defined by its borders. We do not have the capacity to soak up all of South America, and that is exactly what will happen if we put down our borders. We will truly be just like them. That is not what I want for my children. And yes my great, great, great grandparents were born here. The United States is a sovereign country.
CitizenJustice wrote on Dec 10, 2007 12:39 PM:We ARE NOT a nation of immigrants. Eight-five percent of us WERE BORN IN THE U.S. Our forebears were IMMIGRANTS. WE ARE CITIZENS......NOT IMMIGRANTS.
Citizen-Justice: wrote on Dec 10, 2007 12:46 PM:It is a shame that the momentum of the illegal immigration nightmare, has resorted to THEM and US! But for the majority of the American population, its about the "RULE of LAW." It's about a troubled economy! It's about our sovereignty, our flag our language. It's about the difference between legal and illegal! Whatever your origin of birth, you are welcome no matter what your ethnic makeup, as long as you entered through the front door with the permission of the American taxpayer? Americans are compassionate,very giving and have a philanthropist nature, but there are limits to supporting the hungry and destitute of this planet. We certainly are not the benevolent people as we once were? Taxpayers, the middle class; the white and blue collar workers are strained to even feed their own families. Yet by federal mandate we are forced to feed, house, clothe and care for wave upon wave of illegal foreign nationals. This is unjust, completely unfair and a travesty of our safety-net for our own needful citizens. ... We as a nation, a people has been sold to the highest bidder.
El Guero wrote on Dec 10, 2007 2:04 PM:Mercado can't work and he's behind on rent. So what's stopping him from returning to Mexico and finishing the house he and Beltran were building? He'd have the support of family and friends and the kids would be united with their grandparents, aunts and uncles. So, Felipe, what's stopping you?
jsc wrote on Dec 10, 2007 4:35 PM:I hope that Maria Beltran's tragedy gets a lot of press and air time south of the border. Why? Because maybe if they thought about the risk fewer illegal aliens would cross. Please remind Mexicans of the potential suffering they and their families may go through if they cross illegally. RE the rest of the story. I was a bilingual Medi-Cal worker for years. Illegal aliens fill out a work calendar to document their under the counter wages they don't pay taxes on. Since they claim to make less than 100% of the federal poverty level for their family size, the parents have Unemployment/underemployment deprivation linkage to Medi-Cal at zero share of cost. Parent receive restricted emergency only benefits. U.S. born anchor babies receive full benefits. Many clients live in subsidized housing here, get food stamps, medical, etc. Then they build their retirement home in Mexico where they go to live on the $100,000's they hide away while they live here on us. It's a joke. Meanwhile Americans and legal residents aliens pay for it. God bless America.
LO wrote on Dec 10, 2007 4:51 PM:Looks like you've lost another subscriber!! Censor my comments, I won't buy your paper!! See Ya!
Democrat Robert wrote on Dec 10, 2007 8:31 PM: Censor or not .. thanks for the informative comments from "wrote on"... thanks goodness for Brian Bilbray .. is anyone else a pitbull on this invasion issue? Filner, Davis, Issa best get on board or get the hell out of the way the voters demand enforcement now and we have needed it years!!! In short get in line or get out!
Taxpayer wrote on Dec 11, 2007 5:14 AM:A story about a person who is a citizen of another country should be a back page article. Just how long should we allow this nonsence to go on???... This is beyond insanity. When, if ever, will we regain some rational sense of the U.S. as a sovereign nation??? It is past time to find the explanation. We need to decide soon if we want to lose control. It seems to me to be such a waste. This isn't settled ... the debate rages on.
Tom wrote on Dec 12, 2007 4:19 AM:The mother may have been covered by Medicaid. When she gave birth to a child in the US the child and mother are covered by Medicaid. The child is a US citizen. I don't know how long the mother would continue to have coverage. Have to feel sorry for such a tragedy. Bill Mexico for reimbursement or freeze and garnish government of Mexico assets in the US.
Domingo wrote on Dec 12, 2007 9:14 PM:Subtract the dollars local and state gvnts spend on illegals & there offspring, (the cost of incarcerating/prosecuting/medicaly treating/feeding/housing/educating, etc) from the money the US of A disburses to their home country. Oh, and sendem home.
Such a Rip Off!!! wrote on Dec 14, 2007 3:51 AM: I got a better solution, send the Medical Bill's to Bush and Congress, they are so good at sending our money and giving nothing in return, they can't even decide what not to decide upon. If they had stayed across the order they wouldn't be in this situation. If your going to feel bad about ayone Don't forget the (2) Border Agents still in Prison for doing thier job!!!
Trixie wrote on Dec 15, 2007 2:22 PM:RE: Mercado said his wife had health insurance, provided through her U.S.-born children. >>>>>>>>>> Does that mean her US born children are paying for her health insurance - or does it mean because she has US born children, she is getting taxpayer funded healthcare? I do wish they would be accurate and specific.
Please wrote on Dec 15, 2007 3:55 PM:Can someone please let some of these people what the difference is between an immigrant and an "illegal" immigrant! I think a 5 year could understand that, why can't some adults!
Jess wrote on Jan 3, 2008 3:22 PM:I know that people don't know what the true story of an illegal immigrants life holds unless you are that immigrant or the members of that family. Belive it or not if they could stay in Mexico and make an honest leaving they would not try to brake any laws, and come in to US to make a living. A dollor earned in America is a penny earned in Mexico. America is a shade of every color. When it comes to hard and honest workers or people taking tax dollors it doesn't matter what country you were born in, our tax dollors go to every one not just illegal immigrants.
To "fed up" wrote on Jan 3, 2008 3:30 PM:It is not the illegal immigrants standing at the corners of every street asking for a dollor they work for their dollor. Take the medcaid and tax dollors you still have an honest hard worker.
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